Holy Sonnet 10: Death, Be Not Proud

John Donne

John Donne portrait

1572 to 1631

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Track 1

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Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so;
And death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die.
For those whom thou think'st thou dost overthrow
Thou art slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men,
Much pleasure; then from thee much more must flow,
Death, be not proud, though some have called thee
From rest and sleep, which but thy pictures be,
And better than thy stroke; why swell'st thou then?
Rest of their bones, and soul's delivery.
One short sleep past, we wake eternally
Die not, poor Death, nor yet canst thou kill me.
And dost with poison, war, and sickness dwell,
And soonest our best men with thee do go,
And poppy or charms can make us sleep as well

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